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Forecasting tornadoes?

Shawn Gossman

Supporter
Joined
Feb 9, 2007
Messages
280
Location
Metropolis, Illinois
So I want to get better at forecasting tornadoes, especially in my area for chasing projects. What are some good articles, sites, resources, etc. for a beginner to learn how to better forecast them? Right now I go based on where warnings are and use my eyes to judge based what I see in the clouds... I am pretty much like a cave man chaser LOL...
 
Hi Shawn,

The Stormtrack library has some good forecasting articles:
http://www.stormtrack.org/library/

A quick google search for tornado forecasting brings up plenty of good articles and papers:
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=o...qi=g-m1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=&fp=a2bb30ecf4f91972

Here are a few more links about some severe weather parameters:
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/sfctest/help/sfcoa.html
http://www.e-falk.com/wx/thunderstorms.php

Hopefully that will get you started and there should be more links on there to follow on to other stuff. I'd dig through the Stormtrack forums and search for learning resources and see what other links have already been posted here. I know there are a few similar threads. Also, severe weather and supercell forecast generally also applies to tornado forecasting as you need the parent storms of course to get tornadoes.
 
Tim Vasquez's books have really helped me understand alot of things and also http://www.meted.ucar.edu/
is a good source of info for a wide variety of skill levels.
You'll have to create an account but it's free.
Good luck!
 
Storm Structure 101

Mike Hollingshead's DVD "Storm Structure 101" is a really good primer on looking at cloud structure and understanding the dynamics of a thunderstorm. :D
 
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